SUPPLEMENTAL PRACTICE

Original unofficial supplemental practice; not DMV questions, an official test, a complete statement of law, or an exam prediction.

Night-driving practice

Interactive practice requires JavaScript. Study the questions, answers and sources below.

Study all 3 questions, answers and sources

You are driving on a dark rural road. A rise in the road blocks your view beyond the headlights. Which choice best manages the limited view?

Ease off until your speed leaves room to stop in the part of the road you can see. (correct): Correct. Match your pace to the road area you can see and be ready to stop within it.
Keep the same pace because no vehicle is close behind you.: Traffic behind you does not improve your forward view or change the stopping space you need.
Move toward the center of the road to improve the view.: Changing lateral position does not remove the unseen area beyond the rise.

When darkness limits how far ahead you can see, your pace should allow you to stop within the visible, headlight-lit area.

Source: Section 8: Safe Driving — California Driver’s Handbook — Section 8: Safe Driving → Understand the Road Conditions → Darkness

On a clear, dry night, you are on an open country road with no nearby traffic and no applicable high-beam restriction. Which setting helps you see the road?

Parking lights only.: Parking lights alone are not the handbook’s choice for seeing the road at night.
High-beam headlights. (correct): Correct. The road is open and dark, no traffic is nearby, and the prompt excludes an applicable restriction.
Low beams for every stretch of road after dark.: The handbook recommends high beams on suitable open dark roads. It separately calls for low beams when it is raining.

The stated open-road conditions fit the handbook’s high-beam guidance. In rain, use low beams instead.

Source: Section 8: Safe Driving — California Driver’s Handbook — Section 8: Safe Driving → Understand the Road Conditions → Darkness

Your high beams are on when headlights appear in the opposite lane. What should you do with your lights?

Keep the high beams on until the other car is close.: Waiting until the other car is close leaves the bright setting on during its approach.
Switch to low beams while the vehicle approaches. (correct): Correct. Change to low beams as the oncoming vehicle approaches.
Flash the high beams several times as it comes closer.: The guidance is to dim the lights, not repeatedly flash them.

Use low beams when another vehicle is approaching so your lights do not impair the other driver’s vision.

Source: Section 8: Safe Driving — California Driver’s Handbook — Section 8: Safe Driving → Understand the Road Conditions → Darkness

# Night driving: choose, adjust, and review

**California Class C practice material · unofficial**

Use this guide after the three practice items. It groups decisions by what the driver needs to do.

## Choose the lighting for the setting

For NDR02's clear, dry, open-road situation—with no nearby traffic and no applicable restriction—the answer is high beams. Rain changes the choice: use low beams.

## Respond when traffic approaches

For NDR03, change to low beams while a vehicle approaches in the opposite lane. Repeatedly flashing high beams is not the choice taught here.

## Set a pace for the view you have

For NDR01, use the visible roadway as your limit: travel at a pace that leaves room to stop before the unseen portion. A rise or bend can hide what lies ahead.

## Source

California Department of Motor Vehicles, [California Driver’s Handbook, Section 8: Safe Driving](https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/safe-driving/), “Understand the Road Conditions” → “Darkness” (retrieved November 2, 2026). The page does not state an edition or effective date.

Sources and scope

{
  "sources": [
    {
      "sourceId": "CA-DMV-HB-S8-DARKNESS",
      "title": "Section 8: Safe Driving — California Driver’s Handbook",
      "publisher": "California Department of Motor Vehicles",
      "official": true,
      "url": "https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/safe-driving/",
      "retrievedAtUtc": "2026-11-02T21:34:34Z",
      "jurisdiction": "California, United States",
      "category": "General night-driving guidance relevant to regular Class C knowledge-test preparation; not category-exclusive law",
      "locator": "Section 8: Safe Driving → Understand the Road Conditions → Darkness",
      "editionOrEffectiveDate": "Not stated on the retrieved page; unknown.",
      "retrievalMethod": "Official California DMV web page, inspected 2026-11-02."
    }
  ]
}

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